50 attacks on Indians in China in 4 months: In Beijing-Shanghai, students and working people are targeted

Posted on 11th Jan 2023 by rohit kumar

There was a crowd in the metro train of Guangzhou city of China, so people were standing and traveling. Meanwhile, some passengers started arguing. Soon the atmosphere became heated and many people together started beating the two boys. The train was standing at the station, the gates were open, and the two boys who were being beaten up were pushed out. They kept on beating these two boys with kicks and punches even on the platform. The guard of the metro station was standing nearby, but he did not stop the attackers.

 

This matter is of October 2022. This video went viral on Chinese social media. The people who were beaten were Chinese and both the boys were Indian. Why there was an argument, what action was taken against those who beat them, what happened to the two boys who were beaten up, nothing is known.

 

Ritesh (name changed), who is studying in China, becomes speechless after watching this video. Then they say- 'The Chinese media is continuously suppressing the cases related to such attacks on Indians, even the police do not allow them to come to the fore. This happened with one of my friends in the past too, but no action is taken. What can we even do?

 

According to our sources in China, incidents of attacks on Indians have increased in Chinese cities in recent months. Sources include university professors and research scholars and students. He has requested not to give his name.

 

More attacks while returning home or in the market

According to sources, Indian Embassy officials present in China also believe that attacks on Indians in China have increased since Doklam. Even the Indian Embassy has started collecting data on these attacks and has prepared a report. According to the same report, since the beginning of the academic year i.e. September, there have been more than 50 cases of assault and robbery on Indian students in China.

 

These attacks took place in different cities in China. Most cases have been reported in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The target is young people who are students or employed. They were attacked while returning home from college or office, many were targeted in the market.

 

However, the Indian Embassy is not considering these as racial attacks. According to sources, crime has increased in China and these incidents are the result of that. Many students and their families have raised security concerns and requested the embassy to beef up security.

 

Advice from the Indian Embassy people- Do not travel alone, do not go to the club at night

Ritesh, who is doing Ph.D. at a Chinese university, says that after the attack on his friend, he also sought help from the Indian Embassy. Embassy officials are in constant touch with the Indians present in China through open and closed-door meetings.

 

Following complaints of such attacks, in October 2022, he asked students to avoid traveling alone in 'virtual open house meetings', stay in well-lit and crowded areas, keep safety alarms, and avoid late-night clubbing, religion, and politics. But the advice was given to avoid arguments and live in harmony with the local people. Along with this, the embassy was also asked to inform immediately in case of such an incident.

 

Ritesh says that the Indian community present in China is angry due to the frequent attacks. They are demanding to show of seriousness regarding the safety of the students. The Indian Students' Union has also lodged protests several times in this matter. The union demands that the Chinese government take action to ensure the safety of foreign students.

 

Matters related to the attacks have reached the Ministry of External Affairs. He has assured the students and their families that he is working to resolve the issue.

 

Attacks on Pakistani and Bangladeshi students as well

Not only Indian but Pakistani and Bangladeshi students are also being ill-treated in China. Most of them come to China to study medicine. A few months ago, a Bangladeshi student was stabbed to death by a Chinese student at the South Campus of North-West Agriculture and Forestry University in Yangling, Shaanxi province.

 

Similarly, a Pakistani boy studying at Nanjing University was stabbed to death last year. He was friends with a Chinese girl. He was waiting for a cab across the street with her. Then a person ran away after stabbing him.

 

Usha Kumari (name changed) living in China says that a similar case had also come to the fore in Shenzhen. A Pakistani student had committed suicide here. It was later learned that the people in the apartment where he lived used to beat him up and threaten him. Due to this, he started getting upset and finally committed suicide. However, such news is not exposed by the Chinese media.

 

The danger increased after the Doklam dispute

Usha Kumari, recalling the situation after the 2017 Doklam standoff, says that Indians were targeted only after this standoff. Many people in China cannot differentiate between Indian, Pakistani, and Nepalese citizens. That's why they used to quarrel with Pakistani and Nepali people as well. They were told that your country is attacking us.

 

Whenever there is a border dispute between India and China, such cases increase. Ajit (name changed), who works in the Indian Embassy in Beijing, says – The atmosphere was so bad that we used to go out with our faces covered. We were forced to hide our Indian identity. My children studied at Beijing University, I used to worry about them all day long.

 

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